Wenger, Linden M. (1912-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Dec 26 p. 12

Birth date: 1912 Dec 26

text of obituary:

Former EMS philosphy professor dies

By Jim Bishop

Eastern Mennonite University

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Linden m. Wenger, 92, professor emeritus of philosophy at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a former pastor and bishop, died Dec. 18 at Oak lea Nursing Home.

Wenger taught undergraduate Bible and philosophy courses and at the seminary from 1955-78. he also carried a full slate of responsibilities in Virginia Mennonite Conference.

During his tenure, Wenger was acting dean of the seminary from 1965-67, assistant to Eastern Mennonite University President Myron S. Augsburger from 1967-70, director of field education from 1972-78 and seminary registrar from 1974-78.

Wenger was born Dec. 26, 1912, at Edom, Va., the son of Oscar E. and Bessie P. Heatwole Wenger. On June 1, 1941, he married Esther Huber, who died May 17, 2003.

Wenger was ordained in 1945 as pastor of Mount Hermon Mennonite church, where he served for 10 years. he was ordained bishop or overseer of several Mennonite churches in the Highlands area of Virginia and West Virginia in 1959.

He was a graduate of EMU and earned a mater of theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. He did research on Mennonite church-building in the Miami area while a visiting fellow at Princeton (N.J.) Theological Seminary in 1971-72.

He held a number of church-wide offices and had been a member of the board of the Virginia Mennonite Conference Center, chair of the Virginia Conference Visitor Center committee and headed the Older Adults Ministries committee of Virginia Conference.

Wenger wrote Climbing Down the Ladder, an autobiographical book about retirement, in 1993. In 19997, he released a second book, Fifty Years in Northern District of Virginia Mennonite Conference, which recounted the effects of change in that area of the church from 1945-95.

Surviving are two sons, Harold C. and J. Lowell Wenger, a daughter, Linda Kay Wenger; two sisters; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Lindale Mennonite church, where Wenger was a member, with burial in the Lindale cemetery.